WEST WINDSOR — Notre Dame coach Chappy Moore always suspected senior defensive end Jon Dimon would eventually be honored by the 12th Man Touchdown club. It was just a matter of when.

Dimon — a senior defensive end and three-year starter for the Irish — finally got his free dinner Tuesday night after racking up nine tackles and four sacks in Notre Dame’s 29-14 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro North Friday night.

“He’s played outstanding all year long, so I was just waiting for the opportune time,” Moore said before the ceremony. “This was it.”

Despite the monster numbers, Dimon was humble explaining how he was able to have so much success against the Northern Knights.

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“It was the same thing we do each and every week,” said Dimon, who plans on playing college football. “We watched a lot of film with the coaches and we came out and practiced hard.”

Dimon has been an especially vital part of a Notre Dame defense that hasn’t allowed more than two touchdowns in its three games against CVC competition. As the only senior starter on the defensive side of the ball, he’s taken on a leadership role among his younger teammates.

“I really feel like this is my defense, being a three-year starter,” Dimon said. “Being the only senior, I need to take control of it, take the reigns and show them how we play… We get after the ball and fly around the field.”

It’s easy, of course, to say somebody is a leader without any proof. Moore, however, offered a convincing piece of evidence confirming Dimon’s status on the team.

“He is a captain and was a unanimous vote,” Moore said. “Everybody voted for him.”

Moore also stressed that Dimon’s character away from the football field is something that helps him excel on it, and makes him worthy of recognition.

“He’s a great student, and he comes from a great family. He comes to play every practice and every game.”

The 3-2 Irish will face a major test this weekend, when they’ll travel to take on the undefeated Hopewell Valley Bulldogs.

“It’s always good to play a good football team,” Moore said. “They are undefeated and it’s their homecoming, so it should be a big crowd. That’s what makes it fun.”

What piece of advice did Dimon have for his teammates?

“It’s a big game,” he said. “You have to play your best on the biggest nights.”

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Kevin O’Hanlon, the coach of the Trenton Freedom — Trenton’s newly formed indoor football team — spoke to the assembled group of players and coaches before the ceremony.

“We don’t want to let down the area,” O’Hanlon. “The two teams that came before us — we don’t want to do that.”

A representative from Pop Warner football also addressed the gathering.

About the Author

Trentonian sportswriter and utility man. New York Jets, Princeton basketball, Mercer/Bucks county high schools, Trenton Thunder. Tulane grad. Former Times-Picayune and NFL.com intern. Reach the author at nperuffo@trentonian.com
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